Review: IMAX Titans of the Ice Age 3D

If the age of the giant dinosaurs could be interpreted as the epic blockbuster of prehistory then it stands to reason that the ice age (AKA the Pleistocene) is the somewhat smaller budgeted sequel which, despite not being as widely loved as its predecessor, has built up a reasonable cult fan base of its own. A strange blend of both the familiar and the unfamiliar, the ice age is a fascinating era of the Earth’s ancient history. IMAX’s Titans of the Ice Age is one documentary which looks to bring the wonders of the Pleistocene to the masses… in glorious 3D!

As with virtually any modern day documentary about prehistoric animals, one of the yardsticks which Titans of the Ice Age is judged by is the quality of its computer generated creatures. While this is something of a shallow aspect to critique in terms of a factual piece, it is an unavoidable one. Modern audiences demand that their learnings be accompanied by a certain degree of spectacle. It is this spectacle which garners the initial spark of interest which can lead to the creation of new scientists in the future, so a science documentary’s aesthetic should never be dismissed as a mere secondary concern. With that in mind, it must be said that Titans of the Ice Age is a bit behind the curve when it comes to visuals.

For example, many of the animals seen in 2001’s Walking With Beasts were more detailed and better rendered than what we see here. That’s not to say the animals look bad in Titans of the Ice Age, but when the CGI creations in a TV series from well over a decade ago can look better than those in a big screen showcase it feels like a regressive step. Furry critters like the woolly mammoth just about get away with it, but their more ‘naked’ Columbian mammoth counterparts do not fare so well, appearing noticeably out of place in the real world environments they find themselves in. The film’s 3D effects are more impressive though, with a great sense of depth produced as the audience gazes out over icy plains and tiny snowflakes flutter about before their eyes.

The less than amazing CGI found in Titans of the Ice Age is disappointing as beneath the lack of sheen lies a really solid documentary. Despite being only 40 minutes long (which seems a bit short considering the £11 entry fee), it manages to pack in a lot of information and explain it in a digestible way. For example, it does a much better job than most documentaries of explaining exactly how and why much of the world was plunged into an icy grip during the Pleistocene. This is vital as most people are aware that there was an ice age, but precious few can adequately articulate exactly how it came about. The documentary also ends on a conversational note, managing to highlight humanity’s impact on the natural world without coming off as being overly preachy – another important thing that any documentary interested in discussing serious science must strive to achieve.

Christopher Plummer does an excellent job as Titans of the Ice Age‘s narrator. His voice evokes an image of a wise old sage, imparting truth and wisdom upon those who will listen. The smooth, velvety tones he produces make absorbing information an absolute pleasure, putting him in the same narrative ballpark as legends of the game such as David Attenborough. Similarly, the film’s score is suitably epic when the action calls for it, but also tender when it needs to be, hitting all of the right cues, enhancing the film as an experience.

From an informational point of view, Titans of the Ice Age is a very good documentary, even if it does play it safe by limiting the featured creatures to only a handful. A longer running time would have helped alleviate this problem, but the filmmakers were probably wise to err on the side of brevity, seeing as the film is aimed at general audiences, as opposed to those with an pre-existing exhaustive knowledge of the ice age and its fauna. Despite its many good points, the outdated special effects cannot be ignored on the gigantic IMAX screen, which is a shame as they prevent the documentary from being a brilliant spectacle as opposed to just a pretty good one.

Titans of the Ice Age is currently on show in London’s Science Museum and frequently appears at other museums around the world.

Sean is Geek Ireland's resident dinosaur enthusiast, having been fascinated by prehistory since a time before he could read, speak or stand in an upright position (he still struggles to do at least one of these things on a daily basis).
Known as one of the biggest dinosaur fans Ireland has ever produced, Sean has delivered talks on his favourite subject at many venues and events including the Irish Film Institute, the UCD Science Expression Festival, Tayto Park, Dublin Comic Con and even London's Comedy Store.